Auxiliary closing device for a circuit breaker



Dec, 6, 1955 R. R. BUSH ET AL 2,726,295

AUXILIARY CLOSING DEVICE FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Sept. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fiji.

Inventors:

Ralph R. Bush, John A. F'VTB,

Dec. 6, 1955 R. R. BusH ET AL.

AUXILIARY CLOSING DEVICE FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Sept. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor-s: Ralph R. Bush, John A. Fa re,

1: Thjfittorneg.

United States Patent AUXILIARY CLOSING DEVICE FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER Ralph R. Bush, Havertown, and John A. Favre, Broomall,

Pa., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September 28, 1954, Serial No. 458,868

8 Claims. (Cl. 200-82) This invention relates to an auxiliary closing device for an electric circuit breaker, and more particularly, to an auxiliary closing device which is capable of closing a large circuit breaker against an energized power line.

In certain situations, the electric control power normally relied upon for the closing of a circuit breaker may be unavailable. Frequently, during such situations, it is necessary that the breaker be closed against an energized line in order to restore service over the line. Because of the high magnetic opposing forces which may be produced when a large circuit breaker is closed against an energized high power line, it is neither practical nor safe to rely upon a manually-operated device for such a closing operation. For properly performing such a closing operation, the device relied upon must be capable of imparting to the contacts of the breaker suflicient force and speed to drive the contacts closed at high speed even against short circuit forces.

Accordingly, it is an object of our invention to provide a new and improved auxiliary closing device for a circuit breaker which is capable of reliably closing the breaker at high speed against an energized power line.

Another important requirement for an auxiliary closing device is that the device be immediately available to perform this desired closing operation. Any delays required for attaching the device to the breaker will undesirably lengthen the time delay required for restoration of service to the power line.

Thus, another object is to provide a device which may be quickly attached in an operative position to the breaker without the need for tools or any operations requiring tools.

Still another object is to construct the closing device as a self-contained unit which may be quickly applied to the breaker without the necessity for first manually lifting and positioning components of the device on the circuit breaker.

In accordance with one form of our invention, the closing device for the circuit breaker comprises a portable carriage, a cylinder having an external flange adapted to be supported 011 appropriate abutment structure provided on the breaker, and a linkage adjustably mounting the cylinder on the carriage and operable to shift the flange into a supported position on said abutment structure. When the flange is so supported, a plunger mounted within the cylinder may be actuated to drive the breaker operating member into closed position and thereby close the breaker. For actuating the plunger, there is provided an intermediate receiver containing pressurized gas and a quick-acting control valve operable to supply this pressurized gas to the cylinder in a manner to drive the plunger and the circuit breaker toward closed position at high speed. This intermediate receiver is supplied from a storage tank containing liquified gas under high pressure. All of the components of the closing device,

upon the carriage so that the device is a self-contained 2,726,295 Patented Dec. 6, 1955 ICC unit which requires no significant external source of energy to effect circuit breaker closing.

For a better understanding of our invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of an auxiliary closing device constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the closing device applied to a typical circuit breaker; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figs. 1 and 3 and showing the parts of the device in a lowered position; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 except showing the parts in elevated position.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is illustrated an auxiliary closing device comprising a portable carriage 11 which is mounted on suitable pairs of wheels 12, 13. Adjustably mounted on the carriage 11 is a longitudinally extending platform 15 which, at its forward end, carries a fluid motor comprising a cylinder 21 and a reciprocal plunger 22. When the cylinder is properly positioned and supported beneath the operating member of a circuit breaker and fluid pressure is then applied to the underside of the plunger, the plunger will drive the operating member upwardly at high speed to close the breaker. The manner in which the cylinder is so positioned upon the breaker and the manner in which the plunger is so actuated to close the breaker will soon appear in greater detail.

For mounting the cylinder 21 in an operative position on the breaker, the cylinder is provided with an upper end plate 24. This upper end plate 24 and a lower end plate 23 are compressively clamped against opposite ends of the cylinder by means of axially extending bolts 25. As best shown in Fig. 3, the upper end plate 24 extends radially outwardly from the cylinder so as to define an external circumferential flange 26 having a pair of notches 27 and 28 formed therein. At its underside, the upper end plate 24 has counterbores or recesses 29 and 30 which respectively extend about the bight portions of notches 27 and 28. This flange 26 serves as an adapter for supporting the cylinder 21 in operative position on the circuit breaker.

This latter relationship may be better understood by referring to Fig. 2 wherein we have shown a typical circuit breaker 31 upon which the emergency closing device is to be used. This circuit breaker 31 is of the solenoidoperated type and may be closed by moving the armature of the solenoid upwardly from a lower or reset position to an upper or closed position. This armature is shown at 32 in its lower or reset position. Typically, the armature has an end plate such as 33 secured to its lower end. Another typical feature of this type of circuit breaker is that beneath the armature there is disposed stationary abutment structure upon which may be mounted the usual manually operated closing device, commonly called a maintenance closing device. Maintenance closing devices are intended for use only when the breaker is disconnected from the power line or when the power line is deenergized. Operators are specifically cautioned against utilizing such devices for closing on an energized line. In the illustrated breaker, the stationary abutment structure takes the form of a pair of vertically extending rods 34 fixed with respect to the breaker and each having a nut or collar 35 threaded on to its lower end. If the flange 26 on the cylinder 21 is shifted into a position wherein the notches 27, 28 engage the rods 34 and is then lowered into a position wherein the nuts 35 are seated in the counterbores 29 and 30, the cylinder 21 will be firmly attached in a supported position on the breaker. With the cylinder so attached in the supported position, the plunger may be driven upwardly to engage the armature 32 and thereby drive the armature upwardly into its closed position.

For shifting the cylinder into the above-described sup ported position on the breaker, the cylinder-supporting platform 15 is adjustably mounted on the movable carriage 11 by means of a positioning linkage 40. As may be seen in Figs. 1 and 4, this linkage 40 is of the parallelogram type and comprises a pair of transverselyextending, spaced-apart shafts 41 and 42. Each of these shafts is rotatably mounted in a U-shaped frame 39 forming a part of the carriage 11, and each carries a pair of spaced-apart cranks 43 and 44. The upper ends of each pair of cranks are joined together by suitable transversely-extending shafts 45, upon which the platform 15 is mounted. More specifically, as seen in Fig. 4 the platform 15 has a pair of spaced-apart sets of brackets 46, 47 secured to its transversely-opposite sides. Downwardly projecting from these brackets are rigid spacedapart flanges 48, 49 which extend longitudinally of the breaker. These flanges each have spaced apart apertures for freely receiving the shafts 45. Thus, it may be seen that when the lower rear shaft 42 is rotated by means of a foot pedal 50 suitably pinned thereto, the linkage 40 moves into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, as a result of which, platform 15 and the cylinder 21 mounted thereon are lifted upwardly in preparation for applying the closing device to the circuit breaker. A suitable stop 51 prevents movement of the linkage beyond the dotted line position. Fig. is another view showing the parts in a position corresponding to this dotted line position.

With the platform and the cylinder maintained in this elevated position by the force of the operators foot exerted against pedal 50, carriage 11 may then be rolled into a position wherein the rods 34 are seated within the notches 27, 28. from the pedal, the cylinder will drop into a position wherein the nuts are securely seated in the counterbores 29, 30. The cylinder 21 is then firmly attached to the breaker, and the closing'device is in readiness for an ensuing closing operation.

In order to safely perform this closing operation when the circuit breaker is connected in an energized power line, the plunger 22 must be driven upwardly behind the armature 31 with suflicient force and speed to drive the breaker contacts closed at high speed even against short circuit forces. In order that a fluid motor of practical size operate to close the breaker contacts in this desired manner, pressure beneath the plunger must be built up substantially instantaneously to a value of several hundred pounds per square inch and this pressure must be maintained throughout the closing stroke.

To produce the required operating force for the plunger 22, we have provided a storage tank 54 containing a supply of liquified gas preferably carbon dioxide, under high pressure. Efforts to supply the motor with pressurized gas directly from the liquid storage tank have demonstrated that valves, which are otherwise commercially practical, are incapable of controlling the gas flow in accordance with the above-mentioned requirements of the motor. With such a direct-supply arrangement, normal variations in ambient temperature have so affected the flow through the valve that the motor has operated neither reliably nor consistently to close the breaker, at least under extreme current conditions. In accordance with the present invention, these difiiculties have been overcome by utilizing an intermediate receiver between the storage tank and the motor for storing a supply of operating fluid in gaseous form. Using such an intermediate receiver permits us to use a control valve of a generally conventional design to affect operation of the fluid motor 20.

This intermediate receiver which we have designated 56 may be best seen in Figs. 1 and 3. For connecting this receiver to the storage tank, we utilize a flexible tube 57 and a laterally extending pipe 58 which together form If the operator then releases his foot a duct extending from the upper end of the storage tank 54 to the lower end of the intermediate receiver 56. For controlling the flow of fluid through this duct, there is provided a manually-operated cut-off valve 59 and a pressure regulating valve 60. The regulating valve 60 is of a conventional pressure-responsive design which operates automatically to maintain the pressure within the receiver at a predetermined value. For supplying the fluid motor 20 from the intermediate receiver 56, we provide a conduit 61 of a relatively large cross section extending between these parts. The flow of gas through this conduit is controlled by means of a quick-acting control valve 63 which is preferably of the type shown at 43 in U. S. Patent No. 2,574,377 issued to T. R. Coggeshall and assigned to the assignee of this invention. As shown in the Coggeshall patent, the control valve is of the pilot-operated, balanced type which opens at high speed to permit a large volume of fluid to flow therethrough without substantial throttling. Instead of operating the control valve 63 by an electromagnet, as shown in the Coggeshall patent, we have provided for manual operation of the valve 63 by means of a lanyard 64 attached to a rod 65 which, in turn, is attached to the valve operating element (not shown). Thus, when the lanyard 64 is pulled by an operator, the valve opens at high speed to permit pressurized gas to flow therethrough without substantial throttling. The large diameter of conduit 61 further minimizes throttling. If, at the time the control valve is opened, the intermediate receiver 56 has been filled with the required amount of pressurized gas, the plunger 22 will be driven upwardly to close the breaker in the desired manner. When the lanyard is released, the control valve will return to its closed position wherein, as described in the Coggeshall patent, it vents conduit 61 to atmosphere. In response to such venting, the plunger 22 returns to its lower or reset position and is once again in readiness for a subsequent closing operation.

It is to be noted that the entire closing device 10 is a self-contained unit requiring no significant outside source of energy to effect repeated circuit breaker closing operations. All of the components remain assembled withing the self-contained unit during these closing operations. Awkward, time-consuming preliminary operations, such as lifting parts from the unit and then bolting them in place on the breaker prior to a closing operation, are entirely unnecessary. Our construction permits the storage tank 54 and the receiver 56 to remain compactly mounted within a casing 67 carried by the carriage 11. The storage tank 56, which is seated on a supporting bracket 68, is detachably secured to the casing 67 by means of a clamp 69, whereas the intermediate receiver is secured to the adjustable platform 15 through the casing of the control valve and through suitable clamping structure 70 mounted between the receiver and the side brackets 46 and 47. The flexible hose 57 permits the platform 15 and the intermediate receiver 56 to be shifted with respect to the storage tank.

A spare tank 72 of liquid carbon dioxide is clamped in place within the casing 67, in the same manner as tank 54. This spare tank is provided with an outlet pipe 73, which corresponds to the other outlet pipe 58, and extends into the regulating valve 60, so that as soon as the first tank 54 is exhausted, the spare tank 72 may be quickly brought into operation without appreciable time delay. This transfer from one tank to the other is accomplished simply by closing cut-off valve 59 and opening cut-off valve 74.

While we have shown and described a particular embodiment of our invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from our invention in its broader aspects and we, therefore, intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an auxiliary closing device for a circuit breaker having fixed abutment structure, a portable carriage, a cylinder having a flange arranged to be supported on said abutment structure, means including a linkage adjustably mounting said cylinder on said carriage for shifting said flange into a supported position on said abutment structure, a plunger mounted within said cylinder and arranged when actuated to close the breaker, a tank mounted on said carriage and containing pressurized fluid, and means for supplying said pressurized fluid from said tank to said cylinder to actuate the plunger.

4 2. In a device for closing a circuit breaker of the type having an operating member movable from a lower to an upper position to close the breaker and having stationary abutment structure disposed beneath said lower position, a portable carriage movable into a position be neath said operating member, a cylinder having a flange which is adapted to fit into a supported position on said abutment structure, means including a linkage adjustably mounting said cylinder on said carriage for shifting said flange into said supported position on said abutment structure, a fluid-actuated plunger movably mounted within said cylinder and arranged when actuated to drive said operating member upwardly to close the breaker, a source of pressurized fluid mounted on said carriage, and means for supplying pressurized fluid from said source to said plunger to actuate said plunger.

3. In an auxiliary closing device for a circuit breaker having stationary abutment structure, a portable carriage, a cylinder having a flange arranged to be supported on said abutment structure, means adjustably mounting said cylinder on said carriage and operable to shift said flange into a supported position on said abutment structure, a plunger mounted within said cylinder and arranged when actuated to close the breaker, an intermediate receiver and a storage tank mounted on said carriage, the storage tank containing a supply of liquified gas under high pressure, means for gasifying a portion of said liquid and for supplying the resulting gas to said intermediate receiver, and high speed valve means operable to supply gas from said receiver to said cylinder without substantial throttling whereby to actuate the plunger and close the breaker at high speed.

4. An auxiliary closing device for a circuit breaker comprising a portable carriage, a cylinder having a flange arranged to be supported on a stationary part of the circuit breaker, means including a linkage adjustably mounting said cylinder on said carriage for shifting said flange into a supported position on said stationary part, a plunger mounted within said cylinder and arranged when actuated to close the breaker, an intermediate receiver and a storage tank mounted on said carriage, the storage tank containing a supply of liquefied gas under high pressure, means for gasifying a portion of said liquid and for supplying the resulting gas to said intermediate receiver, and valve means operable to supply gas from said receiver to said cylinder whereby to actuate the plunger and close the breaker.

5. In an auxiliary closing device for a circuit breaker having abutment structure, a portable carriage, a cylinder having a flange arranged to be supported on said abutment structure, means adjustably mounting said cylinder on said carriage and operable to shift said flange into a supported position on said abutment structure, a plunger mounted within said cylinder and arranged when actuated to close breaker, an intermediate receiver and a storage tank mounted on said carriage, the storage tank containing a supply of liquefied gas under high pressure, means including a pressure-responsive regulating valve for gasifying a portion of said liquid and for supplying the resulting gas to said intermediate receiver, said regu lating valve being operable to maintain a substantially constant pressure within said intermediate receiver, and high-speed valve means operable to supply gas from said receiver to said cylinder whereby to actuate the plunger and close the breaker at high speed.

6. The device of claim 5 in combination with a second storage tank mounted on said carriage and containing liquified gas under high pressure, conduit means interconnecting said second tank and said regulating valve, and a cut-ofl valve selectively-operable to control the flow of fluid through said conduit means.

7. A device for closing a circuit breaker of the type comprising an operating member movable from a lower to an upper position to close the breaker and a pair of vertically extending rods having stationary collars mounted thereon in a location adjacent said lower position, said device comprising: a portable carriage movable into a position beneath said operating member, a cylinder having horizontally-extending flange structure containing a pair of notches which are adapted to receive said rods, the underside of said flange structure being provided with recesses aligned with respect to said notches and adapted to receive said collars whereby to attach said cylinder in a supported position on the breaker, means including a linkage adjustably mounting said cylinder on said carriage for shifting said flange into said supported position on said collars, a fluid-actuated plunger movably mounted within said cylinder and arranged when actuated to drive said operating member upwardly to close the breaker, a source of pressurized fluid mounted on said carriage, and means for supplying pressurized fluid from said source to said plunger whereby to actuate said plunger.

8. In an auxiliary closing device for a circuit breaker having a stationary part, a longitudinally-extending portable carriage, a pair of shafts mounted on said carriage and extending transversely thereof, pivotable cranks mounted on said shafts, a shiftable platform mounted on said cranks, a cylinder carried by said platform and having a flange shiftable into a supported position on said stationary part in response to pivotal movement of said cranks, a plunger mounted within said cylinder and arranged when actuated to close the breaker, a tank mounted on said carriage and containing pressurized fluid, and means for supplying said pressurized fluid to said cylinder whereby to actuate the plunger.

References Cit-ed in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,660,635 Wood Nov. 24, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,128 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1940 

